Packing Tips for Studying Abroad

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(Just a heads up: This article is geared more towards females planning on studying abroad, BUT can also be applicable to the males as well!)

Studying abroad is one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences a student can have while in college … but it can also be one of the most stressful times as well!

Currently, I am studying abroad in Denmark; and I have to say, the weeks leading up to my departure were the most hellish times of the whole experience. It was not because I was scared about going to a new country or leaving my family behind, I was actually looking quite forward to that (sorry fam)!

I was stressing out because I had NO IDEA what to pack! I know it seems a little silly, but it’s true. I was about to be moving my entire life to a new country and only had two suitcases of space to bring everything I needed for half a year. And as a 20-something year old female, prioritizing what to bring was a real challenge.

However, now that I have been in Europe for three months now, I can safely say that I have a good idea of what I wish I had brought, what I could’ve just bought over here, and what I would recommend to other students going abroad as well.

So here is a list I made that I would recommend to any student about to embark on the crazy wonderful experience of studying abroad for a semester (this is geared more towards students going to Europe, but still relevant for those of you going to other countries as well!)

Clothing: (studying in the summer/fall term)

*1 NICE and warm/heavier coat (Europeans are VERY fashion conscious)

*1 lighter coat for not-too-cold

*1 light cardigan/sweater

*1 windbreaker/waterproof jacket that is light/small enough to stuff into your bag

*The Little Black Dress (comes in handy year-round)

*1 swimsuit

*1-2 dressy tops

*1-2 casual tops

*1-2 pullover sweaters

*1-2 pairs of nice pants

*1-2 pairs of jeans

*1 cute, simple skirt

*1 pair of shorts

*Leggings to layer under jeans

*1 pair of gloves

*7-8 pairs of socks

*10-15 pairs of underwear

*3-4 bras (+1 sports bra)

*2-3 pairs of PJs

*1 pair of workout clothes

*1 beanie/hat

*1-2 scarves

*1-2 pairs of casual boots

*1 pair dressier boots (DO NOT bring heels!!!!! You will break your ankle … all the streets are uneven cobblestone)

*1 pair athletic shoes

*Pair of sandals (to wear in hostel/Airbnb showers or when it’s hot out)

*1 small purse/satchel

*1 larger purse/bag (good for when you travel on the plane)

*Backpack

*Jewelry and watch (optional) - this is more of a personal preference

*Glasses/contact lenses (and bring spares as well!)/SUNGLASSES

Toiletries (Bring MINI versions of these if you are limited on baggage space — just enough to get you through about a week of staying there so that you can familiarize yourself to where the markets are to buy these items.)

*Shampoo/conditioner

*Soap/body wash

*Toothbrush and toothpaste

*Floss

*Lotion

*Face wash/acne cream

*Makeup (buy this at home in regular sizes. You usually cannot find the same brands in Europe or they are CRAZY expensive.)

*Contact lens solution (BUY THIS IN A BIG BOTTLE — it’s almost double the price here)

*Hair brush

*Deodorant

Medicines (IMPORTANT: Do your research prior to leaving!!Each country is different on what they allow you to bring into the country. Even if you have a prescription, authorities can still confiscate certain kinds of medication if they do not allow it.)

*Prescribed medication (check if it is legal and also bring a written prescription from your doctor!)

*Pain killers like Tylenol (good for the hangovers you will most likely experience your first weekend here)

*Allergy pills (me and all of my friend got allergies since there is a pollen that Americans are not used to)

*Over-the-counter sleeping aid pills (can be difficult to sleep your first nights here because of the time change)

*Anti-itch cream (useful even if it is a little embarrassing to pack)

*Multivitamins

*Birth Control

*Tums/something for upset stomachs (your stomach can sometimes not react well to the new foods/drinks)

*Cold medicine

*Cough drops

*Neosporin

*Small first aid kit

Electronics (CAUTION: American devices use different power wattage than European plugs so things like hair dryers, curling irons, etc., may blow your fuse even with a converter. I would strongly recommend buying such things in your stay country.)

*Cell phone (You can suspend your home plan and either buy a new plan in your stay country or get temporary SIM cards from convenience stores. Both work perfectly fine).

*Laptop (Bring a case as well.)

*Earphones

*Portable charger (VERY handy when you want to take a ton of pictures.)

*Camera (Optional – it’s nice to have but may get damaged or stolen … your phone works just as well!)

*2-3 Adapters (Research this prior to leaving.)

*Chargers (Spares are also nice to have if you plan on traveling around.)

Little Extras (Things that I found I am really happy I brought/WISH I had)

*Eye mask (Summer months mean TONS of sun and it can rise as early as 4 a.m. so an eye mask will let you catch some much needed ZZZZZ’s.)

*Ear plugs (Good for the plane or if you have noisy neighbors.)

*Umbrella

*Phone case/wallet duo (Handy if you’re going out and don’t want a bulky bag!)

*WATER BOTTLE (Buying bottled water everyday is SUPER pricey and a waste of plastic.)

*Hair ties, bobby pins

*Tweezers and nail clippers

*Large Ziplock baggies (Absolutely impossible to find in Europe.)

*Sunscreen (Sun is much more intense in Northern European countries.)

*Twin bed sheet set (Hostels are nasty and I hated the idea of sleeping in sheets strangers just used. I used these in my own room as well!)

*Pillow case (Again, HOSTELS ARE GROSS.)

*International credit card (Avoid outrageous charges.)

*3-4 photocopies of your passport (Useful if you need it to open up a bank account, transportation card, etc. and can’t access a photocopier.)

*Venmo App (For some reason, you cannot download it here — but came in handy when I needed to pay friends back for covering for me!)

*Passport holder! (Having an American passport can be risky since not everyone likes us … hard to believe I know, so hiding it and not making it obvious is nice.)

*Hand sanitizer

*Travel-sized bottle containers (excellent for traveling and not having to re-buy travel-sized shampoos/body wash/contact lens solution)

*Pens/small journal (Good if you like journaling, but also for your first day of school.)

Well, that pretty much sums up my packing list for your study abroad adventure. Though the time leading up to your trip may be hectic and stressful, remember it is all totally worth it in the end.

This has been one of the best experiences I have ever had, and is something that I will never regret taking part in. Even if you’re going solo or goinlg with other people you know, you will still meet tons of amazing people from all over the world … and some will lead to life-long friendships that you will never forget.

Always remember to be smart and keep safe. But most importantly, have the time of your life!